Legal woes deepen for Yankees’ Mariano Rivera in sex abuse cover-up

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Hall of Fame closer and New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera is at the center of growing legal troubles after being named in an amended civil lawsuit alleging his role. He, along with his wife Clara Rivera, is accused of covering up the sexual abuse of a minor during a church-related summer program in 2018. The allegations, while not criminal charges, mark a troubling chapter for a public figure long held in high regard both on and off the field.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this year in Florida, has now been updated to name both Mariano and Clara Rivera as defendants. According to the complaint, the couple allegedly “isolated and intimidated” the victim—a minor at the time—to remain silent about the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of another camper and later, a church youth leader.

Background of the allegations

The alleged abuse occurred in the summer of 2018 at Ignite Life Center, a Gainesville-based church program. The victim, reportedly born in 2007, was 10 or 11 years old when she was encouraged by Clara Rivera—who serves as a pastor at Refuge of Hope Church in New York—to attend the Florida-based religious camp.

The lawsuit states that while the child stayed in an unsupervised dormitory, she was repeatedly assaulted by an older female camper. In a police report filed in 2022, the girl detailed as many as 15 separate incidents of sexual abuse, including inappropriate touching in both her bunk and in the showers over a two-week stay.

Despite not reporting the abuse at the time, the girl’s mother became alarmed during a phone call with her daughter and contacted Clara Rivera with concerns. The Riveras subsequently traveled to Florida to assess the situation, but the lawsuit alleges they did not take meaningful action.

Instead, the suit contends that the couple prioritized avoiding a scandal tied to their church community over the well-being of the minor involved. “They received information that should have given them concern,” the complaint reads but allegedly chose to suppress the issue.

Abuse allegedly continued in New York

According to the same complaint, the child remained involved with the church community even after returning to New York. Later that summer, while attending a church gathering at the Riveras’ home in Rye, New York, she was allegedly abused again by the same individual who assaulted her in Florida.

In a particularly damning assertion, attorney Adam Horowitz, who represents the victim, stated that the Riveras “failed to mitigate the risks, and upon learning that she had been a victim, took no steps to protect her or get criminal justice. They continued to expose her again to the same risk at her home.”

New allegations surface in 2021

The suit further alleges that in 2021, the girl was again sexually abused—this time by a male youth leader at Refuge of Hope Church in New York. Her mother reportedly discovered months of inappropriate electronic communication between the youth leader and her daughter, prompting police reports in both New York and Florida.

While no criminal charges have been brought against the Riveras or any of the alleged perpetrators named in the lawsuit, the series of events laid out in the complaint paints a troubling picture of systemic failure and willful neglect.

Rivera’s legal response

The Riveras have strongly denied the allegations. Their attorney, Joseph A. Ruta, issued a statement earlier this year emphasizing that the couple only became aware of the accusations in 2022 when they received a letter from an attorney requesting a financial settlement.

“Any allegations that they knew about or failed to act on reports of child abuse are completely false,” said Ruta. “The Riveras are known throughout New York for their charitable work and especially for their commitment to serving underprivileged children. It’s unfortunate they are being targeted by false allegations.”

According to ESPN, the couple was added to the lawsuit as named defendants after it was determined they had no legal ties to the limited liability company previously listed.

Church history and broader context

The Florida-based Ignite Life Center, where the initial abuse reportedly occurred, has also come under legal scrutiny. The church recently settled lawsuits from three individuals—also represented by Horowitz—who alleged they were sexually abused by a volunteer while attending the center as teenagers. In addition, two other people associated with the church have been criminally charged with lewd and lascivious acts involving minors.

The lawsuit against the Riveras is a civil case and does not carry criminal implications unless prosecutors in New York or Florida decide to pursue criminal investigations. Requests for comment from law enforcement officials in both states have so far gone unanswered.

A lawyer representing Ignite Life Center also declined to comment on the latest developments.

Legacy tarnished?

Mariano Rivera, who spent his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees, was inducted unanimously into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. Revered as the greatest closer in baseball history, his reputation has been defined as much by his philanthropic work as by his dominance on the mound. Rivera and his wife have long promoted their Christian faith and have been involved in various charitable causes targeting youth and underserved communities.

However, these recent allegations cast a long shadow over that image. While the courts will ultimately determine the outcome of this case, the lawsuit brings renewed focus to issues of institutional accountability, especially within religious and youth-serving organizations.

The victim, now in her late teens, continues to seek justice. The civil lawsuit remains active in Florida, with further developments expected in the coming months.

As of May 2025, neither the Riveras nor any church leadership associated with the alleged incidents have been charged criminally. Still, the growing legal cloud over one of baseball’s most iconic figures underscores how allegations of abuse—and institutional failure to address them—can surface long after the events in question.

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